State-Of-The-Art Tools for Studying the Influence of Magnetic Fields on Magnetic Compounds or Organisms
Bacteriodrome and Magnetodrome Features and Functionalities
Exploring the Influence of Magnetic Fields with Bacteriodrome and Magnetodrome
Mag-Instruments presents the Bacteriodrome and Magnetodrome, two innovative devices for microscopic observation of magnetic field influence on magnetic compounds or organisms. These cutting-edge instruments have their roots in the research on magnetotactic bacteria but find wide application in various fields such as medical research, biology, and material science. The Bacteriodrome and Magnetodrome are composed of four essential components:
- a digital microscope or zoom lens used for observation of a studied sample
- a source of magnetic field that allows for precise control of intensity and direction of the magnetic field to which the sample is subjected
- a non-magnetic motorized stage that allows for smooth control of the sample’s location
- control electronics and user-friendly computer software that controls the entire system and allows for microscope image recording and real-time vision processing
The system allows for flexible control of a magnetic field direction and intensity in the plane of the specimen. The field properties can be set as constant values or may vary over time. Examples of field control options:
- a constant field in North, South, East, or West
- circular rotation of the field
- the constant switching between North-South or East-West
- manual control of the field direction and intensity through a joystick
- user-defined field direction and intensity as a function of time loaded from a *.csv file
The software provided with the instrument allows for control and monitoring of the state of the system. Additionally, it allows capturing the microscope camera image and provides a number of real-time vision processing functionalities, such as:
- tracking of moving objects and exporting their trajectories to *.csv file
- counting of moving objects
- thresholded view, which simplifies the visual identification of moving objects and more
Our comprehensive brochure provides a detailed exploration of the Bacteriodrome and Magnetodrome’s capabilities, features, and applications. It serves as a gateway to the fascinating world of magnetic interactions at the microscopic level, offering valuable insights for researchers in various fields.
Main Purposes
- The Bacteriodrome and Magnetodrome are designed for microscopic observation of the influence of magnetic fields on magnetic compounds or organisms.
- These innovative devices are rooted in research on magnetotactic bacteria but find wide application in various fields such as medical research, biology, and material science.
- The Bacteriodrome and Magnetodrome offer flexible control of the direction and intensity of the magnetic field in the specimen’s plane. The field properties can be set as constant values or may vary over time.
- The software provided with these instruments allows for control and monitoring of the state of the system. It also offers real-time vision processing functionalities, such as tracking moving objects and exporting their trajectories.
Key Features
| Digital microscope or Zoom lens | The devices are equipped with a digital microscope or zoom lens, providing high-resolution imaging capabilities for precise observation of the samples |
| Magnetic field control | Bacteriodrome and Magnetodrome offer precise control over the intensity and direction of the magnetic field to which the sample is subjected. This allows researchers to accurately manipulate the magnetic field parameters during experiments |
| Precise sample movement | The devices feature a non-magnetic motorized stage, enabling smooth and precise control of the sample’s location. This ensures accurate positioning for optimal observation and analysis |
| Advanced Control Electronics and Software | Bacteriodrome and Magnetodrome are equipped with advanced control electronics and user-friendly software that allow for comprehensive system control, precise field adjustment, image recording, and vision processing. It offers real-time visualization and analysis functionalities |
| Real-time Vision processing | Via the software, researchers can track moving objects, export object trajectories, count objects, and utilize thresholded views to simplify the identification of moving objects |
Differences between Bacteriodrome and Magnetodrome
The Bacteriodrome uses pairs of Helmholtz coils to create a highly homogeneous magnetic field in the sample volume. In Basic and Advanced versions, the magnetic field strength can reach up to 1 mT, which is enough to manipulate magnetotactic organisms like bacteria and force them to swim along the magnetic field lines. In Custom units, the field can reach up to 3 mT. At the heart of the Bacteriodrome is an inverted optical microscope (Olympus CKX53) with three magnification levels (20x, 100x, and 400x).
The Magnetodrome aims to create higher field strengths by using electromagnets instead of Helmholtz coils and can thus be used for a broader range of materials. The electromagnets are pre-set to generate either a homogeneous or gradient magnetic field. The standard system is built based on Low Frequency (LF) electromagnet cores, which, due to their material, can generate a very strong magnetic field of up to 100 mT. However, they are not suitable for high-frequency operation. High Frequency (HF) cores have very good performance at high frequencies, however, due to their shape, magnetic properties, and control electronics limitation, the maximum generated magnetic field is significantly lower (up to 25 mT) than the LF core setup. Ultra-High Frequency (Ultra HF) system is specially designed for high-frequency high-field operation. It is equipped with a water-cooling system and requires special high-power amplifiers for operation at full specs. Additionally, the vertical field control can be realized by installing a single coil under the stage. The Magnetodrome is equipped with either an inverted optical microscope or a zoom lens, providing high-resolution imaging capabilities for precise observation of the samples.
Both Bacteriodrome and Magnetodrome provide researchers with state-of-the-art tools for studying the influence of magnetic fields on magnetic compounds or organisms. With their advanced features and functionalities, these devices enable precise control, high-resolution observation, and comprehensive analysis, fostering advancements in medical research, biology, material science, and other relevant fields.
Specifications
Bacteriodrome
| Type | Basic | Advanced | Custom |
|---|---|---|---|
| Optical system (magnification) | Inverted microscope Olympus CKX53 (20x, 100x, 400x) | Inverted microscope Olympus CKX53 (20x, 100x, 400x) | Custom |
| Magnetic field source | 2-axis Helmholtz coils | 2-axis Helmholtz coils | 3-axis Helmholtz coils |
| Maximum field | 1 mT | 1 mT | 1 – 3 mT |
| Non-magnetic stage type | Static | Motorized | Motorized |
| Digital camera | Customizable | Customizable | Customizable |
Magnetodrome
| Type | Low Frequency (LF) | High Frequency (HF) | Ultra-High Frequency (Ultra HF) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Optical system (magnification) | Inverted microscope Olympus CKX53 (20x, 100x, 400x) | Zoom lens Keyence VH-Z100T (100 – 1000x) | Custom |
| Magnetic field source | 2-axis electromagnets | 2-axis electromagnets | Up to 3-axis electromagnets & Helmholtz coils |
| Maximum field | 100mT DC-2Hz 50mT 2-5Hz | 20mT DC-5Hz 25mT 5-50Hz | 40mT DC-50Hz |
| Max operation frequency | ≤ 5Hz | ≤ 50Hz | ≤ 50Hz |
| Non-magnetic stage type | Motorized | Motorized | Motorized |
| Digital camera | Customizable | Customizable | Customizable |
| Water cooling | No | No | Yes |
Application in Various Fields
Bacteriodrome and Magnetodrome Application Fields
Whether studying the response of microorganisms to external magnetic fields or experimenting with medical applications of magnetic fields, the Bacteriodrome and Magnetodrome devices empower researchers to dive deeper into the microscopic world of magnetism and extract valuable insights from their experiments.
Biomagnetism:
Bacteriodrome and Magnetodrome were originally developed to investigate and manipulate magnetotactic bacteria, which play a crucial role in the magnetization of natural sediments. These devices allow for the study of the passive alignment and directed locomotion of magnetotactic bacteria using magnetic fields.
Micro-robotics:
In the emerging field of magnetic micro-robotics, Bacteriodrome and Magnetodrome enable precise control of magnetic fields for the locomotion of tiny robots. These devices can facilitate wireless power transfer or direct motion control via magnetic force or torque, enabling applications in small-scale chemical transportation, microfluidics, bioengineering, and nanorheology.
Medical Applications:
Bacteriodrome and Magnetodrome have medical applications, including targeted drug delivery and minimally invasive surgery. By utilizing rotating or oscillating homogeneous magnetic fields or magnetic field gradients produced with electromagnets, these devices can precisely navigate magnetic micro-propellers, microbeads, or magnetic microrobots for applications in drug delivery and surgical procedures.
Please note that some of these applications require the use of additional equipment. The Bacteriodrome / Magnetodrome themselves serve as tools for visualizing the effect of different magnetic fields on various materials.